Planning & Development - Miscellaneous

Campaigning groups question need to build on Green Belt

Ahead of the deadline for submitting responses to the draft Enfield Local Plan, three campaigning groups have come together to release a report which questions the need to build on Green Belt land in order to provide sufficient new housing in the borough.

CPRE London (a branch of the Campaign for Rural England), Enfield RoadWatch and the Enfield Society have today published a report under the title Space to Build, Enfield.

The three groups have carried out analysis of the potential for building new housing on already developed land at sites throughout the borough, concluding that there is more than adequate space without building on any Green Belt land.

According to Alice Roberts of CPRE London, “Our report shows that Enfield Council should not even be considering building on Green Belt. We’ve already found space for 37,000 new homes and that’s really just a start."

The groups argue that building housing at Crews Hill would be the worst possible option, as it would only provide low-density, mainly expensive homes, at the cost of destroying the area's popular garden centres - "an important piece of Enfield's economy which cannot be replaced." They call for a positive vision for Crews Hill, as a centre for horticulture, which recognises the major potential for employment and the major opportunity for Enfield’s economy.

Alice Roberts says that there are much better options: "Large ‘opportunity’ sites, like the Southbury area, can and should be ‘masterplanned’ for high quality, high density (though not high rise) housing developments which are ‘walkable’ and where space is used for housing rather than lots car parking, as happens with low-density Green Belt development. This type of high density housing is more affordable for young people and people on lower incomes – people who are also more likely to rely on public transport and are less able to afford a car. It can also include office space, schools, shops – everything people need."

The detailed report urges the council to resume efforts to improve rail services in the east of the borough and to consider turning areas currently used as retail parks into mixed developments, arguing that, for instance, more intensive use could be made of the large expanses of land taken up by single-storey supermarkets and associated car parking.

See also...

Tuesday's meeting of Enfield's Planning Committee refused to give the go-ahead for a scheme to build 15 housing units at 465-469 Green Lanes. The former snooker club behind these buildings would have been replaced by two blocks of flats up to 4-storeys high Read more

In the last few days both the Mayor of London and Enfield Council have published new strategy documents relating to tackling problems with the availability and affordability of housing within their respective geographical areas of responsibility. The Mayor has published a 'blueprint report' which sets out his vision for reforming London's private rented sector. Enfield Council is bundling together two draft strategies for consultation under the overall title﻿The right home for everyone﻿ - a draft Strategy for Preventing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping and a draft Strategy for Housing and Growth. Read more

In response to the results of a 'Community View' process held last week, in which the majority of participants expressed opposition to the proposal to construct several tall buildings near Southgate Circus - one of them 17 storeys high - Enfield Council has indicated that it will be taking steps to widen engagement in the process for dealing with the planning application, including convening a special Planning Panel meeting. Read more

Enfield RoadWatch, a group which campaigns against housebuilding on Green Belt land, has issued a reminder that the deadline for responding to the draft Enfield Local Plan is approaching - responses must be received by 5pm on Thursday 28th February. Read more

Aspirations for new homes mirror many aspects of modern society thinking. This envisages more physically active and less isolated lives, reduced congestion on the roads, whilst at the same time promoting a low carbon future. But what are we really building? Which new developments live up to our expectations? Are there some places that have got it right? Read more